I have poppies (California poppies, are goldish orangey colored) and larkspur, which are both annuals but they reseed fairly reliably each year, especially if you allow all the seeds to mature and fall. They don't bloom till spring - the poppies first, about late March to mid-late May and the larkspur later - around May - June in my yard. I pull them up when they are done reseeding because they get pretty ratty looking in the heat. Poppies get almost full sun, and larkspur about 1/2 day sun. You won't get year long color from these, but they do bloom for a good month or more. I get alot of positive comments on the poppies from the neighbors and runners and dog walkers in my neighborhood. My soil is amended red clay. The larkspur get moderate water, and the poppies bloom best when they get very little water. Of the 2, the poppies are my favorite.

In addition to Poppies, Larkspur, bachelor buttons, and Bluebonnets I have successfully sown and grown bells of Ireland, purple tansy, blue flax, french hollyhock (Malva sylvestris), and coreopsis. These will bloom late winter/early spring for me and are later replaced with heat-loving plants. I also plant bulbs of ranunculus, anemones and freesias for spring bloom.
Molly

poppies should be planted in the fall. We have a big pink one at the community garden that came in with mulch from one of our gardeners. It sprouts all over the garden every year. No idea what type it is.
Tally HO!